Pilot-Credits PC30: Alternative Transportation

Primarily for larger multifamily projects

Efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled, via encouraging bicycling and other forms of alternative transportation, are rewarded by USGBC in the commercial LEED rating sys-tems. This credit is primarily appropriate for larger multifamily projects. Carbon emissions associated with private vehicle travel is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and around the globe.

Additional Questions

Did the project team meet this credit in more than one way? If so, which options were met, and why did the project team choose to submit one as the primary path for credit achievement?

Credit Specific

Option 1: Provide calculation showing the number of occupants compared to the number of bicycle storage spots & photographs that adequate covered, secured bicycle storage spots were installed

Option 2: Provide calculation showing the number of occupants compared to the alternative vehicle parking capacity & photographs or drawings of the preferred parkingPreferred parking, available to particular users, includes designated spaces close to the building (aside from designated handicapped spots), designated covered spaces, discounted parking passes, and guaranteed passes in a lottery system. spots installed, OR

Option 2: Provide information on minimum local zoning requirements for parking and documentation that parking provided does not exceed local zoning requirements, OR

Option 2: Provide pictures of the site demonstrating that no new parking spaces were provided.

LL Pilot Credit 30: Bicycle Network and Storage

Intent

To reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.

Requirements

Meet both of the following requirements:

Bicycle network

Design or locate the project such that the building entrance and/or bicycle storage is within a 200-yard walk distance from at least one of the following:

An existing bicycle network that connects to a school or employment center within 3 miles bicycling distance from the project boundary; or

An existing bicycle network that connects to at least 10 community resources within 2 miles bicycling distance from the project boundary.

If the requirements border the project boundary, a safe, all-weather route must exist between the bicycle network and the project’s bicycle storage and/or main

entrance.

Planned and funded bicycle trails or lanes may be counted if they are funded and designated for completion within the fiscal year that the constructing organization finalizes the plans.

AND

Bicycle Storage

Provide at least one secure, enclosed bicycle storage space per occupant for 25% of all building occupants. Expect 2 persons for a studio or 1-bedroom apartment, with one additional person per additional bedroom.

Bicycle storage areas must be locked, located under roof and easily accessible to residents. For multi-family buildings with more than 10 units, provide informational signage on using the storage facilities. Bicycle storage capacity may not be double counted; storage that is fully allocated to the occupants of non-project facilities cannot also serve project occupants.

A single family dwelling unit with enclosed garage meets the bicycle storage requirement.

LEED for Homes Review Process

Credit Specific:

Provide calculation showing the number of occupants compared to the number of bicycle storage spots

Provide map demonstrating that the project complies is within 3 miles of a school or employment center or within 2 miles of 10 community resources, and that the route is bicycle friendly

Green rater visually verifies that an adequate number of bicycle storage spots that are located in a locked and under roof areaRoof area is the area of the uppermost surface of the building which covers enclosed Gross Floor Area, as measured when projected onto a flat, horizontal surface (i.e. as seen in Roof Plan view). ‘Roofs’, or portions of roofs, covering unenclosed areas (e.g. roofs over porches and open covered parking structures) are not included in the areas used to evaluate compliance with SSc7.2, though they may be applicable to SSc7.1. are present

Additional Questions

Did the project team meet this credit in more than one way? If so, which options were met, and why did the project team choose to submit one as the primary path for credit achievement?

Changes

Changes made 2/18/2011:

Removed Mid-rise eligibility because a similar credit is available in LEED for Homes Mid-Rise.

Changes made for 2nd Public Comment (08/01/2011):

Removed Option 2: Parking Capacity / Low Emitting and Fuel-Efficient VehiclesFuel-efficient vehicles have achieved a minimum green score of 40 according to the annual vehicle-rating guide of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Included pathway for single-family housing

Included requirements for bicycle network

Organizations

The homepage for the LEED Pilot Credit Library. The LEED Pilot Credit Library is intended to facilitate the introduction of new prerequisites and credits to LEED. This process will allow USGBC to test and refine credits through LEED 2009 project evaluations before they are sent through the balloting process for introduction into LEED.

9 Comments

Eligibility for bicycle network

We recently completed a single family custom home in Kailua, Hawaii, fortunately this town promotes a great bicycle network and for this particular project it was easy to comply with the requirements. Given this town is quite small but very accessible via bicycle, this credit was more of an opportunity for us to educate the homeowner on the importance of alternative transportation and taking advantage of the bicycle 'networkability' in Kailua. There are secure storage locations all of the town, at the beach parks and even at restaurants, bars and stores. Without this it would be very hard to qualify for this credit and I suspect that most towns aren't this advanced. Kailua is already overly congested from tourism so bicycling is actually a quicker form of transportation when travelling around town... takes 1/3 the time of driving... case and point!

Bicycle Network

For projects not located in urban areas, has anyone had difficulty identifying streets or finding maps with bicycle lanes indicated? It seems like this information is easy to access in major cities but may not be readily available in other areas

Bicycle Network

I guess there are a few clarifications necessary for me to see if the project meets. It says that 'Homes' is an applicable rating system - does this apply to single family - I would assume yes. What constitutes a bicycle network? I've looked up the area that my project is located in, and there are defined trails, as well as defined bike lanes on some roads. Other roads have been classified as 'bike friendly' does that count as being a part of the network. There are a number of roads/paths in the area, but they are not completely connected (i.e. there are some holes in the path that make in incomplete)? Also, the home I speak of is at the end of a cul-de-sac, and there obviously isn't a bike path connecting the home to the main road (less than 1/8 mile away) which has a dedicated bike lane. Does that mean this project is automatically disqualified?

Access to a Bicycle Network

Has anyone had problems with access to a bicycle network? We are currently working on a project in Eugene, OR where there is a very extensive network of bike trails/paths. I'm just wondering if this is normal for other cities.

Pilot Credit 30: No new parking

Where as multi-family apartment buildings need zoning required parking, as designers of senior independent living facilities, we have found that most municipalities will modify there zoning requirement or provide a variance for senior low and mid-rise projects.

Jon, You bring up an interesting point about which LEED program this pilot credit applies to. LEED HC will be the program for most senior living facilities. Are most seniors not driving due to personal physical issues or because they have been encouraged to use mass transportation provided at the living facility? Is this pilot credit a good fit in HC?